Source Water Buffer Program

REVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE RFA

Pursuant to Article 11b of the Soil and Water Conservation District Law, applications will be accepted for financial assistance in the form of matching grants to fund the purchase of conservation easements on agricultural lands that support, expand or enhance water quality protection of active public drinking water sources including but not limited to aquifers, watersheds, reservoirs, lakes, rivers, and streams. Program funds will also be available for the implementation of Riparian Buffer Systems within the conservation easement area that will provide further protection to water quality.      

Eligible applicants are County Soil and Water Conservation Districts who will be referred to as “Project Sponsors.” Eligible projects must be for conservation easements on agricultural land that address an active public drinking water supply.  Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis until available funds are expended or the RFA is closed.  Applications that have met all of the eligibility requirements will be funded in the order of the date on which the application was submitted until all available funds are exhausted or the RFA has closed. The State will provide a maximum of 75 percent of the total eligible costs for the project.  This program requires that a minimum 25 percent of the total eligible costs be contributed by the landowner, operator, and/or project sponsor. 

Availability of funding for this program is from Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Budget, which includes an appropriation for this purpose.

          For an application: contact Bethany Bzduch at bethany.bzduch@agriculture.ny.gov or 518-457-2713, login to the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee Sharepoint site at https://nysemail.sharepoint.com/sites/Agriculture/SWCC/_layouts/15/start.aspx#/SitePages/Home.aspx?FollowSite=1&SiteName=Soil%20and%20Water%20Conservation%20Committee or visit the Department’s website at http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/RFPS.html.

FIRST POSTING:

Pursuant to Article 11b of the Soil and Water Conservation District Law, applications will be accepted for one year from the date of this announcement for financial assistance in the form of matching grants to fund the purchase of conservation easements on agricultural lands that support, expand or enhance water quality protection of active public drinking water sources including but not limited to aquifers, watersheds, reservoirs, lakes, rivers, and streams. Program funds will also be available for the implementation of Riparian Buffer Systems within the conservation easement area that will provide further protection to water quality.      

Eligible applicants are County Soil and Water Conservation Districts who will be referred to as “Project Sponsors.” Eligible projects must be for conservation easements on agricultural land that address an active public drinking water supply.  Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis for one year after the program is announced.  Applications that have met all of the eligibility requirements will be funded in the order of the date on which the application was submitted until all available funds are exhausted or the RFA has closed. The State will provide a maximum of 75 percent of the total eligible costs for the project, not to exceed $385,000.00.  This program requires that a minimum 25 percent of the total eligible costs be contributed by the landowner, operator, and/or project sponsor. 

          For an application: contact Bethany Bzduch at bethany.bzduch@agriculture.ny.gov or 518-457-2713, login to the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee Sharepoint site at https://nysemail.sharepoint.com/sites/Agriculture/SWCC/_layouts/15/start.aspx#/SitePages/Home.aspx?FollowSite=1&SiteName=Soil%20and%20Water%20Conservation%20Committee or visit the Department’s website at http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/RFPS.html.